Methods and systems for an improved communication network

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for an improved communication network. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising receiving, at a first device, a first signal over a first medium, the signal comprising a first portion and a second portion, and extracting by a processor a third portion of the first signal, the third portion being at least a portion of the first portion of the first signal, the third portion being intended for receipt by a second device associated with a particular user account. The method may further include combining at least a fifth portion of the first signal with the third portion of the first signal to generate a second signal, the fifth portion of the first signal being at least a portion of the second portion of the first signal and providing the second signal to the second device.

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of service providers, such as cable providers andsatellite providers, may connect user devices to one or more networkssuch as the Internet. Traditionally deploying and maintaining suchnetworks may be costly. Some networks require multiple amplifiers inorder to provide service to a residence, while other networks mayprovide service only within a limited distance from a headend. However,such amplifiers may slow down the network performance and/or consumeadditional power and/or increase the signal to noise ratio (SNR). Inturn, this may reduce the quality of service (QOS) and/or the userexperience. In turn, this may also decrease revenue. Accordingly, thereis a strong need in the market for systems and methods that remedy theaforementioned problems and challenges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference willnow be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarilydrawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overview of a system that can be used to practiceembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an example schematic diagram of a network computing entityaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an example schematic diagram of a user device according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a network architecture according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate example data flows according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are flowcharts illustrating various proceduresand operations that may be completed in accordance with variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

This specification relates systems to methods and systems for providingnetwork access to one or more devices.

In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described hereincan be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving, at afirst device, a first signal over a first medium, the signal comprisinga first portion and a second portion; extracting by a processor a thirdportion of the first signal, the third portion being at least a portionof the first portion of the first signal, the third portion beingintended for receipt by a second device associated with a particularuser account; providing power to the first device using at least afourth portion of the first signal, the fourth portion being at least aportion of the second portion of the first signal; combining at least afifth portion of the first signal with the third portion of the firstsignal to generate a second signal, the fifth portion of the firstsignal being at least a portion of the second portion of the firstsignal; and providing the second signal to the second device.

Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems,apparatuses, and computer programs configured to perform the actions ofthe methods encoded on computer storage devices.

These and other embodiments can each optionally include one or more ofthe following features: combining at least a sixth portion of the firstsignal with the fifth portion of the first signal to generate a thirdsignal, the sixth portion being at least a portion of the first portionof the first signal, and providing the third signal to a third devicedifferent from the second device.

In general, another aspect of the subject matter described herein can beembodied in methods that include the actions of extracting by theprocessor a seventh portion of the first signal, the seventh portionbeing at least a portion of the first portion of the first signal, theseventh portion being intended for receipt by a fourth device associatedwith a second user account; combining at least the fifth portion of thefirst signal with the seventh portion of the first signal to generate afourth signal; and providing the fourth signal to the fourth device.

Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems,apparatuses, and computer programs configured to perform the actions ofthe methods encoded on computer storage devices.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter described herein can beimplemented so as to realize one or more of the following advantages.Improve network stability, operational data transfer rates, networkperformance and, in turn, improve the user experience; reduce the costsassociated with deploying and maintaining networks and in turn increaserevenue; and extend the reach of networks to provide wider coverage andin turn enhance the user experience.

The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter describedherein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the descriptionbelow. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matterwill become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure now will be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, the disclosure may beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legalrequirements. The term “or” is used herein in both the alternative andconjunctive sense, unless otherwise indicated. The terms “illustrative”and “example” are used to be examples with no indication of qualitylevel. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Arrows in each ofthe figures depict bi-directional data flow and/or bi-directional dataflow capabilities.

I. Computer Program Products, Methods, and Computing Entities

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in variousways, including as computer program products that comprise articles ofmanufacture. A computer program product may include a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing applications, programs, programmodules, scripts, source code, program code, object code, byte code,compiled code, interpreted code, machine code, executable instructions,and/or the like (also referred to herein as executable instructions,instructions for execution, computer program products, program code,and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably). Such non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media includes all computer-readable media(including volatile and non-volatile media).

In one embodiment, a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium mayinclude a floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, solid-state storage(SSS) (e.g., a solid state drive (SSD)), solid state card (SSC), solidstate module (SSM), enterprise flash drive, magnetic tape, or any othernon-transitory magnetic medium, and/or the like. A non-volatilecomputer-readable storage medium may also include a punch card, papertape, optical mark sheet (or any other physical medium with patterns ofholes or other optically recognizable indicia), compact disc read onlymemory (CD-ROM), compact disc-rewritable (CD-RW), digital versatile disc(DVD), Blu-ray disc (BD), any other non-transitory optical medium,and/or the like. Such a non-volatile computer-readable storage mediummay also include read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory(PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory (e.g.,Serial, NAND, NOR, and/or the like), multimedia memory cards (MMC),secure digital (SD) memory cards, SmartMedia cards, CompactFlash (CF)cards, Memory Sticks, and/or the like. Further, a non-volatilecomputer-readable storage medium may also include conductive-bridgingrandom access memory (CBRAM), phase-change random access memory (PRAM),ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM), non-volatile random-accessmemory (NVRAM), magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM), resistiverandom-access memory (RRAM), Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon memory(SONOS), floating junction gate random access memory (FJG RAM),Millipede memory, racetrack memory, and/or the like.

In one embodiment, a volatile computer-readable storage medium mayinclude random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM),static random access memory (SRAM), fast page mode dynamic random accessmemory (FPM DRAM), extended data-out dynamic random access memory (EDODRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double datarate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), double datarate type two synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR2 SDRAM),double data rate type three synchronous dynamic random access memory(DDR3 SDRAM), Rambus dynamic random access memory (RDRAM), TwinTransistor RAM (TTRAM), Thyristor RAM (T-RAM), Zero-capacitor (Z-RAM),Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM), dual in-line memory module (DIMM),single in-line memory module (SIMM), video random access memory (VRAM),cache memory (including various levels), flash memory, register memory,and/or the like. It will be appreciated that where embodiments aredescribed to use a computer-readable storage medium, other types ofcomputer-readable storage media may be substituted for or used inaddition to the computer-readable storage media described above.

As should be appreciated, various embodiments of the present disclosuremay also be implemented as methods, apparatuses, systems, computingdevices, computing entities, and/or the like. As such, embodiments ofthe present disclosure may take the form of an apparatus, system,computing device, computing entity, and/or the like executinginstructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium to performcertain steps or operations. Thus, embodiments of the present disclosuremay also take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirelycomputer program product embodiment, and/or an embodiment that comprisesa combination of computer program products and hardware performingcertain steps or operations

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with referenceto block diagrams and flowchart illustrations. Thus, it should beunderstood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations may be implemented in the form of a computer programproduct, an entirely hardware embodiment, a combination of hardware andcomputer program products, and/or apparatuses, systems, computingdevices, computing entities, and/or the like carrying out instructions,operations, steps, and similar words used interchangeably (e.g., theexecutable instructions, instructions for execution, program code,and/or the like) on a computer-readable storage medium for execution.For example, retrieval, loading, and execution of code may be performedsequentially such that one instruction is retrieved, loaded, andexecuted at a time. In some example embodiments, retrieval, loading,and/or execution may be performed in parallel such that multipleinstructions are retrieved, loaded, and/or executed together. Thus, suchembodiments can produce specifically-configured machines performing thesteps or operations specified in the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations. Accordingly, the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations support various combinations of embodiments for performingthe specified instructions, operations, or steps.

II. Example System Architecture

FIG. 1 provides an illustration of an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, this particular embodiment may includeone or more network computing entities 100, one or more networks 105,and one or more user devices 110. Each of these components, entities,devices, systems, and similar words used herein interchangeably may bein direct or indirect communication with, for example, one another overthe same or different wired or wireless networks. Additionally, whileFIG. 1 illustrates the various system entities as separate, standaloneentities, the various embodiments are not limited to this particulararchitecture.

1. Example Network Computing Entity

FIG. 2 provides a schematic of a network computing entity 100 accordingto one embodiment of the present disclosure. In general, the termscomputing entity, computer, entity, device, system, and/or similar wordsused herein interchangeably may refer to, for example, one or morecomputers, computing entities, desktop computers, mobile phones,tablets, phablets, notebooks, laptops, distributed systems, gamingconsoles (e.g., Xbox, Play Station, Wii), watches, glasses, iBeacons,proximity beacons, key fobs, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags,ear pieces, scanners, televisions, dongles, cameras, wristbands,wearable items/devices, kiosks, input terminals, servers or servernetworks, blades, gateways, switches, processing devices, processingentities, set-top boxes, relays, routers, network access points, basestations, and the like, and/or any combination of devices or entitiesadapted to perform the functions, operations, and/or processes describedherein. Such functions, operations, and/or processes may include, forexample, transmitting, receiving, operating on, processing, displaying,storing, determining, creating/generating, monitoring, evaluating,comparing, and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably. In oneembodiment, these functions, operations, and/or processes can beperformed on data, content, information, and/or similar terms usedherein interchangeably.

As indicated, in one embodiment, the network computing entity 100 mayalso include one or more communications interfaces 220 for communicatingwith various computing entities, such as by communicating data, content,information, and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably that canbe transmitted, received, operated on, processed, displayed, stored,and/or the like. For instance, the network computing entity 100 maycommunicate with the user devices 110 and/or a variety of othercomputing entities.

As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the network computing entity 100may include or be in communication with one or more processing elements205 (also referred to as processors, processing circuitry, and/orsimilar terms used herein interchangeably) that communicate with otherelements within the network computing entity 100 via a bus, for example.As will be understood, the processing element 205 may be embodied in anumber of different ways. For example, the processing element 205 may beembodied as one or more complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs),microprocessors, multi-core processors, coprocessing entities,application-specific instruction set processors (ASIPs),microcontrollers, and/or controllers. Further, the processing element205 may be embodied as one or more other processing devices orcircuitry. The term circuitry may refer to an entirely hardwareembodiment or a combination of hardware and computer program products.Thus, the processing element 205 may be embodied as integrated circuits,application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmablegate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), hardwareaccelerators, other circuitry, and/or the like. As will therefore beunderstood, the processing element 205 may be configured for aparticular use or configured to execute instructions stored in volatileor non-volatile media or otherwise accessible to the processing element205. As such, whether configured by hardware or computer programproducts, or by a combination thereof, the processing element 205 may becapable of performing steps or operations according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure when configured accordingly.

In one embodiment, the network computing entity 100 may further includeor be in communication with non-volatile media (also referred to asnon-volatile storage, memory, memory storage, memory circuitry and/orsimilar terms used herein interchangeably). In one embodiment, thenon-volatile storage or memory may include one or more non-volatilestorage or memory media 210, including but not limited to hard disks,ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMCs, SD memory cards, MemorySticks, CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, NVRAM, MRAM, RRAM, SONOS, FJG RAM, Millipedememory, racetrack memory, and/or the like. As will be recognized, thenon-volatile storage or memory media may store databases, databaseinstances, database management systems, data, applications, programs,program modules, scripts, source code, object code, byte code, compiledcode, interpreted code, machine code, executable instructions, and/orthe like. The term database, database instance, database managementsystem, and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably may refer to acollection of records or data that is stored in a computer-readablestorage medium using one or more database models, such as a hierarchicaldatabase model, network model, relational model, entity-relationshipmodel, object model, document model, semantic model, graph model, and/orthe like.

In one embodiment, the network computing entity 100 may further includeor be in communication with volatile media (also referred to as volatilestorage, memory, memory storage, memory circuitry and/or similar termsused herein interchangeably). In one embodiment, the volatile storage ormemory may also include one or more volatile storage or memory media215, including but not limited to RAM, DRAM, SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM,SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, RDRAM, TTRAM, T-RAM, Z-RAM,RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory, register memory, and/or the like.As will be recognized, the volatile storage or memory media may be usedto store at least portions of the databases, database instances,database management systems, data, applications, programs, programmodules, scripts, source code, object code, byte code, compiled code,interpreted code, machine code, executable instructions, and/or the likebeing executed by, for example, the processing element 205. Thus, thedatabases, database instances, database management systems, data,applications, programs, program modules, scripts, source code, objectcode, byte code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code,executable instructions, and/or the like may be used to control certainaspects of the operation of the network computing entity 100 with theassistance of the processing element 205 and operating system.

As indicated, in one embodiment, the network computing entity 100 mayalso include one or more communications interfaces 220 for communicatingwith various computing entities, such as by communicating data, content,information, and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably that canbe transmitted, received, operated on, processed, displayed, stored,and/or the like. Such communication may be executed using a wired datatransmission protocol, such as fiber distributed data interface (FDDI),digital subscriber line (DSL), Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode(ATM), frame relay, data over cable service interface specification(DOCSIS), or any other wired transmission protocol. Similarly, thenetwork computing entity 100 may be configured to communicate viawireless external communication networks using any of a variety ofprotocols, such as general packet radio service (GPRS), Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access 2000(CDMA2000), CDMA2000 1× (1×RTT), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access(WCDMA), Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access(TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Evolved Universal TerrestrialRadio Access Network (E-UTRAN), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO), HighSpeed Packet Access (HSPA), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA),IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, 802.16 (WiMAX), ultra wideband (UWB),infrared (IR) protocols, near field communication (NFC) protocols,Wibree, Bluetooth protocols, wireless universal serial bus (USB)protocols, and/or any other wireless protocol.

Although not shown, the network computing entity 100 may include or bein communication with one or more input elements, such as a keyboardinput, a mouse input, a touch screen/display input, motion input,movement input, audio input, pointing device input, joystick input,keypad input, and/or the like. The network computing entity 100 may alsoinclude or be in communication with one or more output elements (notshown), such as audio output, video output, screen/display output,motion output, movement output, and/or the like.

As will be appreciated, one or more components of the network computingentities 100 may be located remotely from other network computing entity100 components, such as in a distributed system. Furthermore, one ormore of the components may be combined and additional componentsperforming functions described herein may be included in the networkcomputing entity 100. Thus, the network computing entity 100 can beadapted to accommodate a variety of needs and circumstances. As will berecognized, these architectures and descriptions are provided forexample purposes only and are not limiting to the various embodiments.

2. Example User Device

A user may be an individual, a family, a company, an organization, anentity, a department within an organization, a representative of anorganization and/or person, and/or the like. In one example, users maybe employees, residents, customers, and/or the like. For instance, auser may operate a user device 110 that includes one or more componentsthat are functionally similar to those of the network computing entity100. FIG. 3 provides an illustrative schematic representative of a userdevice 110 that can be used in conjunction with embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In general, the terms device, system, computingentity, entity, and/or similar words used herein interchangeably mayrefer to, for example, one or more computers, computing entities,desktops, mobile phones, tablets, phablets, notebooks, laptops,distributed systems, gaming consoles (e.g., Xbox, Play Station, Wii),watches, glasses, key fobs, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags,ear pieces, scanners, cameras, wristbands, kiosks, input terminals,servers or server networks, blades, gateways, switches, processingdevices, processing entities, set-top boxes, relays, routers, networkaccess points, base stations, and the like, and/or any combination ofdevices or entities adapted to perform the functions, operations, and/orprocesses described herein. User devices 110 can be operated by variousparties. As shown in FIG. 3, the user device 110 can include an antenna312, a transmitter 304 (e.g., radio), a receiver 306 (e.g., radio), anda processing element 308 (e.g., CPLDs, microprocessors, multi-coreprocessors, coprocessing entities, ASIPs, microcontrollers, and/orcontrollers) that provides signals to and receives signals from thetransmitter 304 and the receiver 306, respectively.

The signals provided to and received from the transmitter 304 and thereceiver 306, respectively, may include signaling information inaccordance with air interface standards of applicable wireless systems.In this regard, the user device 110 may be capable of operating with oneor more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulationtypes, and access types. More particularly, the user device 110 mayoperate in accordance with any of a number of wireless communicationstandards and protocols, such as those described above with regard tothe network computing entity 100. In a particular embodiment, the userdevice 110 may operate in accordance with multiple wirelesscommunication standards and protocols, such as UMTS, CDMA2000, 1×RTT,WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, LTE, E-UTRAN, EVDO, HSPA, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct,WiMAX, UWB, IR, NFC, Bluetooth, USB, and/or the like. Similarly, theuser device 110 may operate in accordance with multiple wiredcommunication standards and protocols, such as those described abovewith regard to the network computing entity 100 via a network interface320.

Via these communication standards and protocols, the user device 110 cancommunicate with various other entities using concepts such asUnstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), Short Message Service(SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Dual-Tone Multi-FrequencySignaling (DTMF), and/or Subscriber Identity Module Dialer (SIM dialer).The user device 110 can also download changes, add-ons, and updates, forinstance, to its firmware, software (e.g., including executableinstructions, applications, program modules), and operating system.

According to one embodiment, the user device 110 may include locationdetermining aspects, devices, modules, functionalities, and/or similarwords used herein interchangeably. For example, the user device 110 mayinclude outdoor positioning aspects, such as a location module adaptedto acquire, for example, latitude, longitude, altitude, geocode, course,direction, heading, speed, universal time (UTC), date, and/or variousother information/data. In one embodiment, the location module canacquire data, sometimes known as ephemeris data, by identifying thenumber of satellites in view and the relative positions of thosesatellites. The satellites may be a variety of different satellites,including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems, Department of Defense(DOD) satellite systems, the European Union Galileo positioning systems,the Chinese Compass navigation systems, Indian Regional Navigationalsatellite systems, and/or the like. Alternatively, the locationinformation can be determined by triangulating the user device's 110position in connection with a variety of other systems, includingcellular towers, Wi-Fi access points, and/or the like. Similarly, theuser device 110 may include indoor positioning aspects, such as alocation module adapted to acquire, for example, latitude, longitude,altitude, geocode, course, direction, heading, speed, time, date, and/orvarious other information/data. Some of the indoor systems may usevarious position or location technologies including RFID tags, indoorbeacons or transmitters, Wi-Fi access points, cellular towers, nearbycomputing devices (e.g., smartphones, laptops) and/or the like. Forinstance, such technologies may include the iBeacons, Gimbal proximitybeacons, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmitters, NFC transmitters,and/or the like. These indoor positioning aspects can be used in avariety of settings to determine the location of someone or something towithin inches or centimeters.

The user device 110 may also comprise a user interface (that can includea display 316 coupled to a processing element 308) and/or a user inputinterface (coupled to a processing element 308). For example, the userinterface may be a user application, browser, user interface, and/orsimilar words used herein interchangeably executing on and/or accessiblevia the user device 110 to interact with and/or cause display ofinformation from the network computing entity 100, as described herein.The user input interface can comprise any of a number of devices orinterfaces allowing the user device 110 to receive data, such as akeypad 318 (hard or soft), a touch display, voice/speech or motioninterfaces, or other input devices. In embodiments including a keypad318, the keypad 318 can include (or cause display of) the conventionalnumeric (0-9) and related keys (#, *), and other keys used for operatingthe user device 110 and may include a full set of alphabetic keys or setof keys that may be activated to provide a full set of alphanumerickeys. In addition to providing input, the user input interface can beused, for example, to activate or deactivate certain functions, such asscreen savers and/or sleep modes.

The user device 110 can also include volatile storage or memory 322and/or non-volatile storage or memory 324, which can be embedded and/ormay be removable. For example, the non-volatile memory may be ROM, PROM,EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMCs, SD memory cards, Memory Sticks,CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, NVRAM, MRAM, RRAM, SONOS, FJG RAM, Millipede memory,racetrack memory, and/or the like. The volatile memory may be RAM, DRAM,SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM,RDRAM, TTRAM, T-RAM, Z-RAM, RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory,register memory, and/or the like. The volatile and non-volatile storageor memory can store databases, database instances, database managementsystems, data, applications, programs, program modules, scripts, sourcecode, object code, byte code, compiled code, interpreted code, machinecode, executable instructions, and/or the like to implement thefunctions of the user device 110. As indicated, this may include a userapplication that is resident on the entity or accessible through abrowser or other user interface for communicating with the networkcomputing entity 100 and/or various other computing entities.

In another embodiment, the user device 110 may include one or morecomponents or functionality that are the same or similar to those of thenetwork computing entity 100, as described in greater detail above. Aswill be recognized, these architectures and descriptions are providedfor example purposes only and are not limiting to the variousembodiments.

III. Example System Operation

FIG. 4 depicts an example network architecture 400 providing access tothe internet or a network. In the illustrated example, the architecture400 allows complexes 404A, 404B and/or user devices 110 access to theinternet or a network 105. In some implementations, complex 404A may bea house, a residential building, a business, and/or the like. Complex404A may, for example, access audio/visual resources and informationalresources through the smart tap 406 and headend 402. Online servicesproviders may provide access to the headend 402 via a wired or awireless online service provider network. In some implementations, theonline service provider network may be a cable network that facilitatescommunication between the complex 404A and the headend 402. In someimplementations, the online service provider network may be a wirelessnetwork that facilitates communication between the complex 404A and theheadend 402 and/or other aggregators suitable for wireless networks. Insome implementations, the headend 402 may be a control center in a cablesystem for receiving, processing and distributing signals over a cableand/or a wireless network. In some implementations, the headend 402 maybe replaced with other aggregators and management devices and systems.

In turn, the headend 402 may facilitate communication between thecomplex 404A and the network 105. The network 105 may be, for example,the internet. In some implementations, the network 105 facilitates theaccess of various resources and devices. For example, the network 105may facilitate access to audio/visual resources and/or informationalresources. In one example, the user devices 110 may access audio/visualresources and/or informational resources via the network 105. Similarly,communication may be established between the user devices 110 via thenetwork 105 and the depicted architecture 400. A plurality of userdevices 110 may be connected to a local network within the complex 404A.The user devices 110 may access the network 105 according to thearchitecture 400.

The headend 402 may provide data to the smart tap 406 and the smart tap408. In one example, the smart tap 406 may be in bi-directionalcommunication with the headend 402 and/or the smart tap 408. Similarly,the smart tap 408 may be in bi-directional communication with the smarttap 406 and a third smart tap (not shown). The smart tap 406 mayfacilitate bi-directional communication between the complex headend 402and the complex 404A and the complex 404B. Similarly, the smart tap 408may facilitate bi-directional communication between the headend 402 andthe complex 410A and the complex 410B. In one example, a smart tap 406may include one or more amplifiers to ensure that the signal levels orSNR levels associated with the signal are sufficient to transfer thedata to the smart tap 408 and/or the headend 402. In one example, theamplifiers may amplify the signal to have a gain having an output toinput ratio of one.

FIG. 4B depicts an example headend 402 according to one or moreembodiments of the invention. In the depicted example, the headend 402may use at least two different transmission techniques. First data maybe received over input 424. In one example, input 424 is a coaxialcable. The first data is then modulated and/or converted at thetransmitter Tx1 420. The transmitter Tx1 420 may modulate or convert thefirst data into a Synchronous Digital Interface (SDI). In one example,the transmitter Tx1 420 may modulate or convert the first data into aHigh Definition SDI signal (HD-SDI). In one example, the transmitter Tx1420 may be an SDI transmitter. In a different example, the transmitterTx1 420 may be an HD-SDI transmitter. Yet in a different example, thetransmitter Tx1 420 may be an HDMI transmitter. In one example, thetransmitter may be a transmitter associated with a different suitableaudio and/or visual transmission. Generally such transmitters may bepaired with respective receivers of the same type. In one example, anHDMI transmitter may transmit uncompressed video data and/oruncompressed digital audio data. In a different example, an HDMItransmitter may transmit uncompressed video data and/or compresseddigital audio data.

Second data may be received over input 426. In one example, input 426 isa coaxial cable. The first data is then modulated and/or converted atTx2 421. In one example, the Tx2 421 may modulate or convert the seconddata according to a second signal different from the SDI signal. In oneexample, the second signal may be a legacy Data Over Cable ServiceInterface Specification (DOCSIS) signal. In one example, the second datamay be modulated according to a full duplex Orthogonal FrequencyDivision Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme. For example, multiple closelyspaced orthogonal s8b-carrier signals may be used to transfer or carrydata on several parallel data streams. In one example, the signalproduced by Tx2 421 may be associated with a frequency lower than afirst threshold. For example, the first threshold may be 1 GHz.Similarly, the signal produced by Tx2 421 may be a signal associatedwith a frequency above a second threshold. In one example, the secondthreshold is 1 GHz. In a different example, the second threshold is 1.2GHz. The signal from Tx1 420 and Tx2 421 may be combined at combined422. For example, the signals may be added to and/or superimposed overone another. The output is then provided to the smart tap 406 asdepicted in FIG. 4A. The combined signal may be provided to output 428for transmission. In one example, the headend 402 is connected to thesmart tap 406 by a coaxial cable. In one example, the coaxial cable is150 feet long. In a different example, the coaxial cable is 100 feetlong. Yet in a different example, the coaxial cable is between 100 to150 feet long. In some examples, this architecture may provideadvantages that allow the distance between the headend 402 and the smarttap 406 to increase. Similarly, the smart tap 406 may be connected tothe smart tap 408 via a coaxial cable. In one example, the coaxial cableis 150 feet long. In a different example, the coaxial cable is 100 feetlong. Yet in a different example, the coaxial cable is between 100 to150 feet long. In some examples, this architecture may provideadvantages that allow the distance between the smart tap 406 and thesmart tap 408 to increase. Similarly, the smart tap 406 may be connectedto the smart tap 408 via a coaxial cable. Additional smart taps may beconnected to the smart tap 408 with parameters similar to the above.

The complexes 404A and 404B may also be connected to the smart tap via acoaxial cable. The coaxial cable may have parameters similar to theabove, in some examples. In one example, each complex may include asmart demodulator for separating signals above and below a particularfrequency threshold. For example, the smart demodulator may separate thesignals associated with a frequency above 1 GHz from signals associatedwith a frequency below 1 GHz. A first demodulation scheme may be appliedto the signals associated with a frequency above 1 GHz. For example, ina first scheme associated with demodulating SDI signals, HD-SDI signalsmay be applied to the signals associated with a frequency above 1 GHz.Similarly, a different demodulating scheme (e.g., a legacy scheme, anOFDM scheme, and/or the like) may be applied to the signals associatedwith a frequency below 1 GHz. In some examples, a smart demodulator maybe located in the complex 404A and/or the complex 404B. For example, thesmart demodulator may be located in a set-top box or a cable box.Alternatively, the smart demodulator may be located outside the complex404A between the complex 404 A and the smart tap 406. Similar smartdemodulators may be associated with complexes 404B, 410A, and 410B.

FIG. 5 depicts an environment 500 at which a smart tap 501 may operatein accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. An input520 may be provided to the smart tap 501 by a coaxial cable. Adirectional amplifier 514 may amplify signals flowing from the right tothe left in the depicted example. Similarly, a directional amplifier 516may amplify signals flowing from the left to the right in the depictedexample. In one example, the amplifiers 514 and 516 may have a unitygain. For example, the input/output ratio may be 1:1 for the smart tap501. The output of the amplifier 514 is provided to a high-low splitter504. The splitter 504 may route portions of a signal based on afrequency associated with each portion. For example, the splitter 504may route signals associated with a frequency above 1 GHz to CPU 502 androute signals associated with a frequency below 1 GHz to the splitter510. The CPU 502 may be a networking computing entity as describedabove. The CPU 502 may extract from the signals associated with theabove 1 GHz frequency a first signal intended for complex 522 and asecond signal intended for complex 524. The signals may be extracted oncontrol data (e.g., data headers, IP addresses, and/or the like).

The splitter 510 may route a portion of the signals associated with afrequency lower than 1 GHz to the power input 512. The portion of thesignal may be used to produce power to power the smart tap 501. Forexample, the portion of the signal may be converted to power by one ormore filters. The power may then be used to power the devices within thesmart tap 501 (e.g., amplifiers). The remainder of the signalsassociated with a frequency below 1 GHz may then be provided tocombiners 506, 508 and 518. At combiner 506, the extracted signalsassociated with a frequency above 1 GHz and with complex 522 may becombined with the signals associated with a frequency below 1 GHz. Theoutput may then be provided to optional extractor E 526 shown inphantom. The optional extractor E 526 may then route the signalsassociated with a frequency above 1 GHz to a first demodulator employinga first demodulation scheme, and the signals associated with a frequencybelow 1 GHz to a second demodulator employing a second demodulationscheme. In one example, the first demodulation scheme is associated withSDI signals, and the second demodulation scheme is associated with alegacy OFDM signal. In some examples, the extractor E 526 may be locatedinside the complex 522. In one example, the demodulation may be done bya single smart device that includes one or more network computingentities. The network computing entity may identify that demodulatedsignals are associated with different frequencies according to differentschemes. In one example, the smart demodulator may be located within acable box or a set-top box.

Similarly, at combiner 508, the extracted signals associated with afrequency above 1 GHz and with the complex 524 may be combined with thesignals associated with a frequency below 1 GHz. The output may then beprovided to optional extractor E 528 shown in phantom. The optionalextractor E 528 may then route the signals associated with a frequencyabove 1 GHz to a first demodulator employing a first demodulation schemeand the signals associated with a frequency below 1 GHz to a seconddemodulator employing a second demodulation scheme. In one example, thefirst demodulation scheme is associated with SDI signals and the seconddemodulation scheme is associated with a legacy OFDM signal. In someexamples, the extractor E 528 may be located inside the complex 524. Inone example, the demodulation may be done by a single smart device thatincludes one or more network computing entities. The network computingentity may identify that demodulated signals are associated withdifferent frequencies according to different schemes. In one example,the smart demodulator may be located within a cable box or a set-topbox. Other complexes (not shown) may be provided bi-directionalcommunications and data access according to methods similar to theabove.

At combiner 518, the output of the CPU 502, after extracting the signalsfor the complexes 522 and 524, is combined with the signals associatedwith a frequency below 1 GHz. It should be understood that the output ofthe CPU 502 includes signals intended for distribution to othercomplexes through other smart taps. Once the output of the CPU 502 iscombined with the signals associated with a frequency below 1 GHz, theoutput is amplified by the amplifier 516. The amplifier 516 may amplifythat combined signal such that the combined signal strength and/or poweris substantially equal to the strength and/or power of the input signalat input 520. This amplification may ensure that the signal can travelover a coaxial cable for a desired distance. For example, thisamplification may reduce the SNR and improve the QOS. The output 522 ofthe smart tap 501 may then be provided to a next smart tap via a coaxialcable. In one example, the amplifiers 514 and 516 are saturationamplifiers.

FIG. 6 depicts an environment 600 at which a smart tap 601 may operatein accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. An input628 may be provided to smart tap 601 by a coaxial cable. The input 628is provided to a high-low splitter 614. The splitter 614 may routeportions of the input 628 signal based on a frequency associated witheach portion. For example, the splitter 614 may route signals associatedwith a frequency above 1 GHz to the CPU 602 and route signals associatedwith a frequency below 1 GHz to splitter 616. The CPU 602 may be anetwork computing entity as described above. The CPU may extract fromthe signals associated with the above 1 GHz frequency a first signalintended for complex 624 and a second signal intended for complex 626.The signals may be extracted on control data (e.g., data headers, IPaddresses, and/or the like).

Directional amplifiers 604 and 606 may amplify signals flowing from theright to the left in the depicted example. Similarly, directionalamplifiers 608 and 610 may amplify signals flowing from the left to theright in the depicted example. In one example, the amplifiers 604, 606,608, and 610 may have a unity gain. For example, the input/output ratiomay be 1:1 for the smart tap 601. The amplifiers 604, 606, 608, and 610may be configured in parallel to produce an input/output ratio of 1:1.

The splitter 616 may route a portion of the signals associated with afrequency lower than 1 GHz to the power input 612. The portion of thesignal may be used to produce power to power the smart tap 601. Forexample, the portion of the signal may be converted to power by one ormore filters. The power may then be used to power the devices within thesmart tap 601 (e.g., amplifiers 604-610). The remainder of the signalsassociated with a frequency below 1 GHz may then be provided to thecombiners 618 and 620. At combiner 618, the extracted signals associatedwith a frequency above 1 GHz and with the complex 624 may be combinedwith the signals associated with a frequency below 1 GHz. The output maythen be provided to an optional extractor (not shown) as describedabove. The optional extractor may then route the signals associated witha frequency above 1 GHz to a first demodulator employing a firstdemodulation scheme and the signals associated with a frequency below 1GHz to a second demodulator employing a second demodulation scheme. Inone example, the first demodulation scheme is associated with SDIsignals and the second demodulation scheme is associated with a legacyOFDM signal. In the depicted example, the extractor may be locatedinside the complex 624. In one example, the demodulation may be done bya single smart device that includes one or more network computingentities. The network computing entity may identify that demodulatedsignals are associated with different frequencies according to differentschemes. In one example, the smart demodulator may be located within acable box or a set-top box.

Similarly, at combiner 620, the extracted signals associated with afrequency above 1 GHz and with the complex 626 may be combined with thesignals associated with a frequency below 1 GHz. The output may then beprovided to an optional extractor (not shown). The optional extractormay then route the signals associated with a frequency above 1 GHz to afirst demodulator employing a first demodulation scheme and the signalsassociated with a frequency below 1 GHz to a second demodulatoremploying a second demodulation scheme. In one example, the firstdemodulation scheme is associated with SDI signals and the seconddemodulation scheme is associated with a legacy OFDM signal. In someexamples, the extractor may be located inside the complex 626. In oneexample, the demodulation may be done by a single smart device thatincludes one or more network computing entities. The network computingentity may identify that demodulated signals are associated withdifferent frequencies according to different schemes. In one example,the smart demodulator may be located within a cable box or a set-topbox. Other complexes (not shown) may be provided bi-directionalcommunications and data access according to methods similar to theabove.

The output of the CPU 602, including signals intended for distributionto other complexes through other smart taps, may be amplified bydirectional amplifier 608 to account for losses associated with theextraction and counter such losses. Similarly, the signals associatedwith a frequency below 1 GHz may then be amplified by the directionalamplifier 610 to achieve similar results. The amplified signals fromamplifiers the 608 and 610 may then be combined at the combiner 622. Theoutput 630 (output of the combiner and the smart tap 601) is thenprovided to a next tap (not shown) via one or more coaxial cables.Amplifiers 604 and 606 perform a function similar to the above when thedata flow is from the right to the left in the depicted example. Thisamplification may ensure that the signal can travel over a coaxial cablefor a desired distance. For example, this amplification may reduce theSNR and improve the QOS. The output 630 of the smart tap 601 may then beprovided to a next smart tap via a coaxial cable. In one example, theamplifiers 604, 606, 608 and 610 are saturation amplifiers.

FIG. 7A is an example flowchart of a process 700 a in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 700 a beginswith receiving, at a first device, a first signal over a first medium,the signal comprising a first portion and a second portion (702). Forexample, the smart tap 501 may receive a first signal over a coaxialcable. In one example, the first signal may include an SDI portion and alegacy and/or an OFDM portion.

The process 700 a may continue with extracting by a processor a thirdportion of the first signal, the third portion being at least a portionof the first portion of the first signal, the third portion beingintended for receipt by a second device associated with a particularuser account (704). For example, a network computing entity (e.g., theCPU 502) may extract a portion of the SDI signal intended for receipt bya cable box associated with a particular customer account and/or aparticular residence ID.

The process 700 a may continue with providing power to the first deviceusing at least a fourth portion of the first signal, the fourth portionbeing at least a portion of the second portion of the first signal(706). For example, the legacy and/or OFDM signal may be utilized toprovide power to the smart tap 501, as described herein. Accordingly,the smart tap 501 may receive power from its input signals and thereforemay not require an additional power connection. In turn, the process 700a may continue with combining at least a fifth portion of the firstsignal with the third portion of the first signal to generate a secondsignal, the fifth portion of the first signal being at least a portionof the second portion of the first signal (708). For example, a combinermay be used to combine at least a portion of the legacy and/or OFDMsignal with the SDI signal intended for receipt by the cable boxassociated with the particular user account and/or particular residenceID.

In turn, the process 700 a may continue with providing the second signalto the second device (710). For example, the smart tap 501 may providethe combined signal to the cable box associated with the particular useraccount and/or particular residence ID.

The process 700 a may continue with optional step 712 shown in phantom.The process 700 a may then continue with combining at least a sixthportion of the first signal with the fifth portion of the first signalto generate a third signal the sixth portion being at least a portion ofthe first portion of the first signal (712). For example, the output ofthe CPU 502 after extraction may be combined with at least a portion ofthe OFDM and/or legacy signal.

In one example, the combined signal may be amplified. In turn, theprocess 700 a may continue with the optional step 714 shown in phantom.The process 700 a may continue with providing the third signal to athird device different from the second device (714). For example, thecombined and/or amplified signal may then be provided by the smart tap501 to a second smart tap.

The steps of process 700 a may optionally continue with the optionalsteps of process 700 b. The process 700 b may begin with extracting bythe processor a seventh portion of the first signal, the seventh portionbeing at least a portion of the first portion of the first signal, theseventh portion being intended for receipt by a fourth device associatedwith a second user account (718). For example, the CPU 502 may extract asecond portion of the SDI signal intended for a second cable boxassociated with a particular user account and/or residence ID.

In turn, the process 700 b may continue with combining at least thefifth portion of the first signal with the seventh portion of the firstsignal to generate a fourth signal (720). For example, the process 700 bmay combine the SDI signal associated with the second cable box with atleast a portion of the OFDM and/or legacy signal. Finally, the process700 b may provide the fourth signal to the fourth device (722). Forexample, the process 700 b may provide the combined signal to the secondcable box.

FIG. 7C is an example flowchart of an example process 700 c inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The process700 c may begin with combining, at a first device, a first signal and asecond signal, the first signal being associated with a first frequencyrange and the second signal being associated with a second frequencyrange (724). For example, a transmitter device and/or a headend devicemay combine an SDI signal with a legacy and/or OFDM signal fortransmission over a coaxial cable. In turn, the process 700 c maytransmit over a coaxial cable, to a second device, the combined signal(726). For example, the headend and/or transmitter may transmit over acoaxial cable the combined signal to the smart tap 501.

FIG. 7D is an example flowchart of an example process 700 d inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The process700 d may begin with receiving over a coaxial cable a third signal, thethird signal comprising at least the first signal and the second signal(730). For example, a cable box device and/or an extractor may receiveover a coaxial cable a first signal comprising an SDI signal and alegacy and/or OFDM signal. The process 700 d may continue withextracting the first signal and the second signal from the third signal(732). For example, the process 700 d may extract the SDI signal and thelegacy and/or OFDM signal and route each signal to a different deviceand/or location. In one example, the process 700 d may utilize a networkcomputing entity to identify the SDI signal from the legacy and/or OFDMsignal. In one example, the SDI signal may be identified based on afrequency rage above 1 GHz and/or above 1.2 GHz. In one example, thelegacy and/or OFDM signal may be identified based on a frequency rangebelow 1 GHz and/or below 1.2 GHz.

In turn, the process 700 d may continue with processing the first signalaccording to a first processing technique (734). For example, the SDIsignal may be processed according to a processing technique and/or ademodulation technique associated with SDI signals. Accordingly, dataencoded on the SDI signal can be extracted. Similarly, the process 700 dmay continue with processing the second signal according to a firstprocessing technique (736). For example, the legacy and/or OFDM signalmay be processed according to a processing technique and/or ademodulation technique associated with legacy and/or OFDM signals.Accordingly, the data encoded on the legacy and/or OFDM signal can beextracted.

It should be understood that processes 700 a, 700 b, 700 c, and 700 dmay combined and/or performed simultaneously to establish bi-directionalcommunication between networks and devices according to one or moreselection criteria.

In some implementations, network computing entity 100 may employ machinelearning to configure gains of one or more amplifiers (e.g., 604, 606,608, and 610) based on network performance. In one example, a machinelearning algorithm may statically or dynamically adjust the gainsassociated with each amplifier to ensure that the smart tap devicesmaintain a unity gain and/or exceed a threshold level of performance.

These performance attributes and others may be computed periodically(e.g., daily, weekly, and monthly) for each route. Clustered ornon-clustered attributes may be used to train a machine learning model.It should be understood that the selection of attributes or clusters ofattributes for training machine learning models for optimizationprocesses can greatly affect the respective performance. In someimplementations, attributes and/or clusters of attributes are selectedbased on a statistical analysis associated with the optimization.

In some implementations, selection of the most significant attributes isbased on one or more different attribute selection approaches. Theseapproaches may be (1) forward selection, which is starting with the mostsignificant attributes and incrementally adding a next significantattribute until the model is stable; (2) backward elimination, whichstarts with all the attributes and excludes the non-significantattributes one by one until the model is stable; (3) a combination offorward selection and backward elimination; and (4) checking thesignificance of the attribute by statistical model (regression). In oneembodiment, each attribute selection approach may give a subset ofsignificant attributes. The attributes that are not shown to besignificant by one or more of the attribute selection approaches may beexcluded from the model. Yet in other implementations, the attributesmay be selected by a user as described herein.

In some implementations, the optimization process above is performedaccording to a random forest model. The model may operate byconstructing multiple decision trees at training. Each decision tree maybe based on different attributes. In some implementations, the randomforest model output is the mode of solutions among all the trees of therandom forest. In some implementations, the random forest model istrained with historical data associated with various attributes. In someimplementations, different trained models may be utilized for differentlocations and/or types of networks and/or complexes.

IV. Additional Implementation Details

Although an example processing system has been described above,implementations of the subject matter and the functional operationsdescribed herein can be implemented in other types of digital electroniccircuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including thestructures disclosed in this specification and their structuralequivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them.

Embodiments of the subject matter and the operations described hereincan be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computersoftware, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed inthis specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinationsof one or more of them. Embodiments of the subject matter describedherein can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one ormore modules of computer program instructions, encoded on a computerstorage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, aninformation/data processing apparatus. Alternatively, or in addition,the program instructions can be encoded on an artificially generatedpropagated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, orelectromagnetic signal, which is generated to encode information/datafor transmission to a suitable receiver apparatus for execution by aninformation/data processing apparatus. A computer storage medium can be,or be included in, a computer-readable storage device, acomputer-readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memoryarray or device, or a combination of one or more of them. Moreover,while a computer storage medium is not a propagated signal, a computerstorage medium can be a source or destination of computer programinstructions encoded in an artificially generated propagated signal. Thecomputer storage medium can also be, or be included in, one or moreseparate physical components or media (e.g., multiple CDs, disks, orother storage devices).

The operations described herein can be implemented as operationsperformed by an information/data processing apparatus oninformation/data stored on one or more computer-readable storage devicesor received from other sources.

The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all kinds ofapparatuses, devices, and machines for processing data, including by wayof example a programmable processor, a computer, a system on a chip, ormultiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoing. The apparatus caninclude special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (fieldprogrammable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integratedcircuit). The apparatus can also include, in addition to hardware, codethat creates an execution environment for the computer program inquestion, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocolstack, a database management system, an operating system, across-platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combinationof one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment canrealize various different computing model infrastructures, such as webservices, distributed computing, and grid computing infrastructures.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, a softwareapplication, a script, or code) can be written in any form ofprogramming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, anddeclarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form,including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component,subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computingenvironment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a filein a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file thatholds other programs or information/data (e.g., one or more scriptsstored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to theprogram in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files thatstore one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computerprogram can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiplecomputers that are located at one site or distributed across multiplesites and interconnected by a communication network.

The processes and logic flows described herein can be performed by oneor more programmable processors executing one or more computer programsto perform actions by operating on the input of information/data andgenerating output. Processors suitable for the execution of a computerprogram include, by way of example, both general and special purposemicroprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digitalcomputer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions andinformation/data from a read-only memory or a random access memory orboth. The essential elements of a computer are a processor forperforming actions in accordance with instructions and one or morememory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computerwill also include, or be operatively coupled to receive information/datafrom or transfer information/data to, or both, one or more mass storagedevices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, oroptical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Devicessuitable for storing computer program instructions and information/datainclude all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices,including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM,EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal harddisks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROMdisks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, orincorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the subjectmatter described herein can be implemented on a computer having adisplay device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystaldisplay) monitor, for displaying information/data to the user and akeyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by whichthe user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices canbe used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example,feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g.,visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input fromthe user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, ortactile input. In addition, a computer can interact with a user bysending documents to and receiving documents from a device that is usedby the user; for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on auser's client device in response to requests received from the webbrowser.

Embodiments of the subject matter described herein can be implemented ina computing system that includes a back-end component, e.g., as aninformation/data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g.,an application server, or that includes a front-end component, e.g., aclient computer having a graphical user interface or a web browserthrough which a user can interact with an implementation of the subjectmatter described herein, or any combination of one or more suchback-end, middleware, or front-end components. The components of thesystem can be interconnected by any form or medium of digitalinformation/data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examplesof communication networks include a local area network (LAN) and a widearea network (WAN), an inter-network (e.g., the Internet), andpeer-to-peer networks (e.g., ad hoc peer-to-peer networks).

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of the client andserver arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other. In someembodiments, a server transmits information/data (e.g., an HTML page) toa client device (e.g., for purposes of displaying information/data toand receiving user input from a user interacting with the clientdevice). Information/data generated at the client device (e.g., a resultof the user interaction) can be received from the client device at theserver.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anyembodiment or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions offeatures specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that aredescribed herein in the context of separate embodiments can also beimplemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures that are described in the context of a single embodiment canalso be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in anysuitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be describedabove as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed assuch, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some casesbe excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may bedirected to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processingmay be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various systemcomponents in the embodiments described above should not be understoodas requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should beunderstood that the described program components and systems cangenerally be integrated together in a single software product orpackaged into multiple software products.

Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described.Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In somecases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a differentorder and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processesdepicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require theparticular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirableresults. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallelprocessing may be advantageous.

V. Conclusion

Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseembodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the embodiments are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: splitting, by adevice, an input signal into a first signal and a second signal, whereinthe input signal is received from a first device; determining anextracted signal of the first signal, wherein the extracted signal isrouted to a power input device to power one or more components of thedevice; routing the second signal to a processor unit to generate afirst output signal, wherein the first output signal is routed to acombiner device; determining a residual signal of the first signal,wherein the residual signal is routed to the combiner device; combiningthe first output signal and the residual signal to generate a secondoutput signal; and sending the second output signal to a second device.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a firstfrequency associated with the first signal; and determining a secondfrequency associated with the second portion.
 3. The method of claim 2,further comprising: routing the first signal to a splitter device basedon the first frequency; and routing the second signal to the processorunit based on the second frequency.
 4. The method of claim 2, whereinthe first frequency is above 1 gigahertz (GHz) and the second frequencyis below 1 GHz.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: extractinga third signal associated with a frequency above 1 GHz; extracting afourth signal associated with a frequency below 1 GHz; routing the thirdsignal to a first demodulator employing a first demodulation scheme; androuting the fourth signal to a second demodulator employing a seconddemodulation scheme.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the firstdemodulation scheme is associated with synchronous digital interface(SDI) signals and the second demodulation scheme is associated withorthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signals.
 7. A device,the device comprising processing circuitry coupled to storage, theprocessing circuitry configured to: split an input signal into a firstsignal and a second signal, wherein the input signal is received from afirst device; determine an extracted signal of the first signal, whereinthe extracted signal is routed to a power input device to power one ormore components of the device; route the second signal to a processorunit to generate a first output signal, wherein the first output signalis routed to a combiner device; determine a residual signal of the firstsignal, wherein the residual signal is routed to the combiner device;combine the first output signal and the residual signal to generate asecond output signal; and send the second output signal to a seconddevice.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first signal is amplifiedusing a first amplifier.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein the secondsignal is amplified using a second amplifier.
 10. The device of claim 7,wherein the first output signal is amplified using a third amplifier.11. The device of claim 7, wherein the residual signal is amplifiedusing a fourth amplifier.
 12. The device of claim 7, wherein theprocessing circuitry is further configured to determine a firstfrequency associated with the first signal; and determine a secondfrequency associated with the second portion.
 13. The device of claim12, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: route thefirst signal to a splitter device based on the first frequency; androute the second signal to the processor unit based on the secondfrequency.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein the first frequency isabove 1 gigahertz (GHz) and the second frequency is below 1 GHz.
 15. Thedevice of claim 7, wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to: extract a third signal associated with a frequency above1 GHz; extract a fourth signal associated with a frequency below 1 GHz;route the third signal to a first demodulator employing a firstdemodulation scheme; and route the fourth signal to a second demodulatoremploying a second demodulation scheme.
 16. The device of claim 15,wherein the first demodulation scheme is associated with synchronousdigital interface (SDI) signals and the second demodulation scheme isassociated with orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)signals.
 17. A system comprising: at least one memory storingcomputer-executable instructions, and at least one communicationinterface; and at least one processor in communication with the at leastone communications interface, and the at least one memory and configuredto execute the computer-executable instructions to: split an inputsignal into a first signal and a second signal, wherein the input signalis received from a first device; determine an extracted signal of thefirst signal, wherein the extracted signal is routed to a power inputdevice to power one or more components of a device; route the secondsignal to a processor unit to generate a first output signal, whereinthe first output signal is routed to a combiner device; determine aresidual signal of the first signal, wherein the residual signal isrouted to the combiner device; combine the first output signal and theresidual signal to generate a second output signal; and send the secondoutput signal to a second device.
 18. The system of claim 17, whereinthe processing circuitry is further configured to determine a firstfrequency associated with the first signal; and determine a secondfrequency associated with the second portion.
 19. The system of claim18, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: route thefirst signal to a splitter device based on the first frequency; androute the second signal to the processor unit based on the secondfrequency.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing circuitryis further configured to: extract a third signal associated with afrequency above 1 GHz; extract a fourth signal associated with afrequency below 1 GHz; route the third signal to a first demodulatoremploying a first demodulation scheme; and route the fourth signal to asecond demodulator employing a second demodulation scheme.